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Volume about a critical institutional history of the UFS underway

24 April 2024 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied

Prof Saleem Badat, Research Professor in the UFS Department of History, who has initiated an exciting research project to produce a critical institutional history of the UFS.

The Department of History at the University of the Free State (UFS) has initiated an exciting research project to produce a critical institutional history of the UFS. The initiative is part of a wider national project, the Research Project on the Histories of Universities (RPHUSA) in South Africa. Prof Saleem Badat is leading this undertaking, which involves several other universities.

According to Prof Badat, the aim of the UFS project is to produce a volume on the overall history of the UFS and possible additional volumes on specific themes and issues, depending on the nature and extent of scholarly contributions.

The emphasis of this project will mainly be on critical reflections on

• learning-teaching, research, and community engagement at the UFS;

• the history of disciplines or fields or departments, centres, and institutes;

• governance, leadership and management, and finances;

• student politics and unionism;

• work on issues such as the UFS’ location, architecture, and planning; and

• its crest, regalia, and visual imagery.

“The Department of History hopes that the project will stimulate broad participation,” says Prof Badat.

He invites current and former UFS scholars, students, support staff, and alumni to contribute to research, writing, publishing, and related activities. To discuss the history project, the Department of History will convene a seminar:

Date: Monday, 6 May 2024

Time: 14:00

Venue: Flippie Groenewoud Building (FGG), Room 202

Please confirm attendance with Nicole Masalla.

After the seminar there will be an opportunity for potential contributors to participate in a workshop to consider the nature, extent, and range of possible contributions and to develop protocols, time frames, and timelines for research, writing, and publishing.

News Archive

Leadership is about people, Tsedu

2009-09-16

Mr Mathatha Tsedu, Head of the Journalism Academy at Media24
Photo: Dries Myburgh

Download complete lecture (Pdf-formaat)

Modern-day leaders have neither the inclination nor the will to lead the very people who have entrusted them with that responsibility, said Mr Mathatha Tsedu, Head of the Journalism Academy at Media24.

The former City Press editor delivered the 2nd King Moshoeshoe Memorial Lecture at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein last night.

He said the current state of leadership in South Africa was characterised by patronage and self-enrichment.

“The poorest of the poor and our affection for them extends only to public meetings where we mouth socialist slogans. But in reality we want nothing to do with them and they have to fend for themselves,” he said.

“Leadership has to be more than just the power of a mayor, premier, MEC or minister to dish out tenders to friends for projects that never get completed. Projects whose real legacy is the fact that the friend of the leader now drives a Hummer.”

He said leadership had to be about people but acknowledged the fact that it would not happen unless people themselves insisted on that.

“King Moshoeshoe teaches us that leadership is about taking decisions and taking risks. Not only as leaders but more especially as members of the community,” he said.

“We can address our critical challenges only if citizens’ groups, business, labour and broader civil society actively engage with the state to improve delivery and enforce an accountable government.”

He appealed to leaders to follow the example of King Moshoeshoe and always put people first, and involve them, in the decisions that they take.

“This is about concern for others and for self. It is about compassion in leadership and in society, it is about caring beyond own concerns. It is about being involved and engaged. These are the attributes that I feel King Moshoeshoe left us as a legacy of leadership. Leadership not only of the leaders but of the led,” he said.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
10 September 2009

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